Referee Halil Umut Meler, 37, was punched to the ground by Ankaragucu President Faruk Koca after blowing the final whistle of the match between Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor on December 12.
Referee Meler had previously shown red cards to two players from both teams, before the visiting team Caykur Rizespor equalized 1-1 in the 90+7 minute of injury time. The surprise happened when Mr. Koca rushed onto the pitch after the final whistle, punched the referee, causing a black eye and causing chaos on the pitch.
Many players and security forces had to try to intervene and help referee Meler leave the field. The 37-year-old referee was also hospitalized afterwards and had to wear a cervical spine brace as prescribed by doctors.
Ankaragucu Club President Faruk Koca rushed onto the field and knocked out referee Meler (Photo: Getty).
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned Mr Koca's attack on the referee, while the Turkish Football Federation has suspended all domestic football indefinitely.
Notably, just a few hours after the above shocking behavior in world football, Mr. Koca announced his resignation and affirmed that he would quit football.
"I would like to inform everyone that I have resigned as President of MKE Ankaragucu to prevent any further harm to Ankaragucu Club, Ankaragucu fans, the community I am involved in and my family," Faruk Koca told the media.
Mr. Koca admitted that his behavior was unacceptable and resigned as president of Ankaragucu Club (Photo: Getty).
"I hope that this incident, which I, more than anyone else, myself cannot accept, will be the reason for our sporting life, especially our football community, to be purified of mistakes, shortcomings and a culture of violence.
At the same time, I hope that the structural problems of Turkish football will be discussed in a more realistic way due to the serious incident I caused. I would like to take this opportunity to once again apologize to all those I have upset, especially the Ankaragucu fans.
"I want everyone to know that I am deeply saddened that the club I manage, the football community and our country are all remembered with such an ugly event and image," the 58-year-old president apologized to Turkish football fans.
Despite his apology, Mr Koca is still in police custody after attacking the referee. Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that authorities had arrested Mr Faruk Koca for "intimidation and intentional infliction of bodily harm on a person performing official duties".
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